extractor
UK[ɪkˈstræktə]US[ɪkˈstræktər]
n
a machine or device used to remove something, especially by pulling it out or forcing it out.
n
a person or company that obtains a substance or material from a source, such as a mine or well.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
tract
or
ex
out
tract
pull, draw
or
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'extractor' is built upon the Latin verb extrahere, meaning "to draw out," which itself is a compound of the prefix ex- ("out") and the verb trahere ("to pull, draw"). The English verb 'extract' was formed from the past participle of this Latin verb. The agent noun suffix '-or' was then appended, following a common Latin pattern for forming nouns denoting instruments or agents of an action. Thus, an extractor is literally "that which pulls something out," a meaning directly preserved in its modern usage for devices or entities that remove or obtain materials from a source.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + tract (pull, draw) + or (agent suffix)
ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out of, from, thoroughly".
tract: Latin origin, from the root of trahere meaning "to pull, draw, drag".
or: Latin origin, an agent noun suffix indicating "a person or thing that does something".
Examples
The kitchen gadget includes a citrus extractor for making fresh juice.
Oil extractors are vital to the energy industry.
The dentist used an extractor to remove the damaged tooth.